Pittsfield Sees Potential Candidates for All Positions

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There are potential candidates for all positions on the Nov. 4 ballot.

There are several wards where only the incumbent councilor has taken out papers so far.

It's election season again, and as of Thursday, potential candidates have taken out papers for city clerk, councilor at large, Wards 1-7, and the School Committee. Nomination papers became available on April 3, and certified papers are due by Aug. 1.

A preliminary election will narrow the race down on Sept. 16 if a position has more than two candidates, or nine for at-large councilor.

The six-person School Committee so far has only five potential candidates: incumbents Daniel Elias and Sara Hathaway, and newcomers Geoffrey Buerger, Jacob Klein and Sarah Muil.

Tayshialynn M. Chaloux has taken out papers to challenge incumbent clerk Michele Benjamin.  Alexander Blumin took out papers for clerk and withdrew on April 11, but has not withdrawn from potential candidacy for council seats at-large and for Ward 2. 

Incumbent Kenneth Warren is the only person to take out papers for Ward 1. Craig Benoit, Blumin, Cameron Cunningham, Lindsay Locke, and Corey Walker took out papers for Ward 2. Brittany Bandani was elected in 2023 in Ward 2 over Blumin.

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.